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Rotorua real estate agents say the traditional spring rush is yet to kick in, following a nationwide drop in house sales.

The latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures showed a low number of listings meant nationwide sale volumes in September fell by 3 per cent year-on-year - the lowest number of properties sold since January.

There were 168 fewer properties sold across the country as sales fell to 5506 from 5674 in September last year - the lowest for September in seven years.

The number of houses sold in Rotorua dropped 2.6 per cent to 75 from 77 in September 2017 - and 15.7 per cent from 89 in August 2018.

The last time Rotorua had a sales count lower than 75 was in January 2018.

However, local real estate experts were confident the market would pick up over spring.

REINZ regional director Philip Searle said new listings had attracted plenty of interest at first open home viewings in the Bay, as the market continued to flow forward.

"Interest was shown for properties in all price ranges, but the traditional spring rush hasn't quite kicked in yet," he said.

Searle said investors were interested but cautious with upcoming changes to the Healthy Homes legislation, which created opportunities for first home buyers as competition for affordable homes eased off.